Examples of Nonpoint Source Pollution

Nonpoint source pollution originates from a wide variety of sources. The examples given below are not an exhaustive list; more examples can be found on the Louisiana Nonpoint Source Pollution Program web site.

• Erosion-prone areas deposit excess amounts of sediment into nearby receiving water, which can cause aesthetic, recreational, biological, physical, and chemical degradation.
• Chemicals (such as fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) can wash into water bodies through erosion or storm water run-off.
• Dumping chemicals (such as motor oil and antifreeze) into storm drains.
• Illegal hookups of storm drains to sanitary sewers can result in increased volumes of flow to waste water treatment plants, causing more frequent overflows of sewage into receiving water.
• Conventional septic tank systems can cause nonpoint source pollution where the soil is inadequately porous to allow percolation of liquids and/or the ground water level is high.
• Precipitation can collect airborne contaminants.
• Precipitation can wash heavy metals and tar residuals from roads into nearby bodies of water.
• Automobiles and mechanical equipment can leak petroleum residues.